Changes

[[Category:Spirituality and Religion|*]]__NOTOC__ __NOTOC__<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Yangzom Brauen and Katy DarbyshireFrederic Seager|title=Across Many MountainsJesus, the Man and the Myth: Three Daughters A Jewish Reading of Tibetthe New Testament|rating=4.5|genre=BiographySpirituality and Religion|summary=Fleeing your home can never be easy but when you are six, your only shoes are roughly hand-sewn I was brought up in a family where religion played little or no part. Culturally Irish Catholic on one side and stuffed with hayWelsh Methodist on the other, nobody really discussed religion and your route is over the world's highest mountain range then it must be particularly challengingadults around me ranged from lapsed to agnostic to atheist. This was Other than the journey that Yangzom Brauen's mother took with her parents when they fled Tibet after odd church wedding or baptism or the Chinese invasion of 1959. They were leaving behind all that they knew and travelling to India in the hope that they could find sanctuary in the country where the Dalai Lama was in exile. school nativity play, I didn'Across Many Mountainst think too much about faith or what people did or didn' is their storyt believe.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184655344X</amazonuk>B092BWWG9Y

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=David OvasonPeter Owen Jones|title=Shakespeare's Secret Booke: Deciphering Magical and Rosicrucian CodesConversations with Nature|rating=35

|summary=One group of people the comments made when I was offered this beautiful book for review was that were convinced the Chilean miners, Los 33, would be relieved of their ordeal, were numerologists. For hundreds of years, it seems, they have held the number thirty-three in good stead's not very long. It represents a lot of expression of Having read the egobook twice over, or the soul, or the transformation of the spirit from one world to another. It doesnI't boil down m brought back inescapably to just the 33 years Christ was supposed to have held His human incarnationSpanish proverb that Life may be short, but refers to many ethereal, magical, alchemical transformations from state it is broad. In this case I'm brought to state. And who can deny the Chilean mine was 2010's most vivid embodiment of hell - and idea that the 33 were reborn in coming back to length of life on earth?is not the point; the point is its depth. Peter Owen Jones dives deep.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905570260</amazonuk>1912992418

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert Leon DavisRichard Brook|title=Running ScaredUnderstanding Human Nature: For 22 Years He Was a Fugitive - The Corrupt Cop Busted by GodA User's Guide to Life|rating=34.5|genre=AutobiographyLifestyle|summary=Robert Davis was I am a firm believer that sometimes we choose books, and sometimes books choose us. In my case, this is one of the eldest of nine children all living with their grandmother in New Orleans – on welfarelatter. His grandmother was a goodNot so very long ago, if I had come across this book I'd have skimmed it, honest woman and Davis loved and respected herfound some of it interesting, but money was so tight it would not have 'hit home' in the way that he resorted it does now. I believe it came to thieving me not just because I was likely to bring some extra food in for the familygive it a favourable review [ ''full disclosure The Bookbag's u.s.p. He knew is that she would be deeply upset about itpeople chose their own books rather than getting them randomly, but hunger so there is hunger. In your heart you cana predisposition towards expecting to like the book, even if it doesn't blame him and always turn out that way'' ] – but also because it seems that all is coming good when Davis becomes a respected police officer in the mid nineteenbook I needed to read, right now.|isbn=1800461682}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Hill_Atlas|title=The Atlas of Monsters|author=Stuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-seventiesFiction|summary=There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as trolls, leprechauns, goblins and minotaurs. HeThey's living with a goodre the stuff of far too many stories to remain mysterious, and every schoolchild should know all about them. There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as Gog and Magog, Scylla and Charybdis, decent woman and looks set the bunyip. They are what you find if you take an interest in this kind of thing to the next level; even if you cannot place them all on a map you should have a good careercome across them. GreatBut there are monsters and mysterious characters, such as the dobhar-chu, the llambigyn y dwr, and the girtablili. To gain any knowledge of them you think, sometimes life really need a book that knows its stuff. A book like this one…}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1999731506|title=Spiritual Atheist|author=Nick Seneca Jankel|rating=2|genre=Lifestyle|summary=''Spiritual Atheist'' is a new 'bible'for the spiritual not the religious, according to the tagline. This isa taboo smashing book which solves the problem of modernity and explains how to be a 'spiritual technologist' fair who can live and it works outlove freely in 'spiritual fullness' without relying on a belief in god. Touching on everything from 'brain science' to AI, Jankel offers a 'path to meaning', allowing us to move beyond consumerism towards an ethical life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854249932</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carol Richards1789015200|title=Columbanus: Poet, Preacher, Statesman, SaintBe Your Higher Self|author=Samesh Ramjattan

|summary=Richards is at pains to point out straight away that the reader mustnThere are a lot of self-help books about: it't confuse Columbanus with Columba s one of Iona. She informs us that the latter did not travel extensively but most thriving sections of the formeraverage bookshop, but it's not always easy to find the subject of her book, did travel throughout parts of Europeyou need. She gives her subject Samesh Ramjattan has addressed this problem in ''Be Your Higher Self'', a terrific introduction on book which allows us all to make sense of our place in the coverworld, describing him as most of us only glimpse our true potential and few people ever achieve it. Even with hard work and dedication, obstacles present themselves and it'poets difficult to understand why or how they can be overcome. Ramjattan offers us a guide to the spirit world, preacherthe chakras, statesman, saint.' And then goes into much more detail karma and reincarnation as well as information about these areas the age of his lifeAquarius and the ego.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845401905</amazonuk> It's a slim book - just 128 pages - so can it provide us with the answers we seek?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=G Willow WilsonMahnke_Lore|title=The Butterfly MosqueWorld of Lore, Volume 1: A Young Woman's Journey to Love and IslamMonstrous Creatures|author=Aaron Mahnke

|genre=AutobiographySpirituality and Religion|summary=This memoir is told in the first person so straight away there is Every country, every town, every village has a folktale – a connection with story passed down through generations that often focuses on the readerdark and unexplained. The story starts - not in Egypt - but in No matter how the USA. Willow (lovely name) says shemodern world moves on, there's ''in the market for a philosophy.'' And in this search she still a part of everyone that is extremely thoroughvulnerable to a good tale. She looks at mainstream religions - ChristianityFrom ghosts to werewolves, Buddhism to name but two by way of wendigos and puts them under elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the microscope, so to speak. She dismisses reader legends from all of them before settling on Islam. It appears to offer what she is after, what she is looking for, that enigmatic thing. But alsoover the world, therewhilst examining how they's some little twist which helps make her mind up. But not before she digs deep and seeks answers to complex and awkward questions. She reads and researches Islam and finds out surprising factsve become part of our collective imaginations, which she shares with still striking fear into the reader. Willow is well-read and well-educated. She seems set for a good career hearts of many of her choice on American soilus today. Why not settle for that? But she's set on travel to the Middle East come what may.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843548283</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin WatersSaxena_Jaya|title=A Pregnant Ghost Basic Witches|author=J Saxena and Other Sexual HauntingsJ Zimmerman|rating=54

|summary=This is a Before I started this book that does what it sets out I was expecting to do on be thrown into the tin, world of magic and does so in almost glorious fashion. The back cover blurb promises hilarity and tittilation, but this will also fit on would know how to levitate by the shelf end of any academic looking into the hornier side of the Fortean worldfirst chapter. Unsurprisingly, I was wrong. However, as well as anyone relishing what I was met by was a book that explores the most singular collection origins of ghost legends that I can remember readingwitchcraft, teaches you how to dress and act like a witch and contains spells ranging from accepting compliments to conjuring up a relaxing Netflix binge.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089902</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=A N Wilson, Nick Cave, Richard Holloway and Blake MorrisonWright_Universe|title=The Four Gospels with introductionsUniverse and Life but Not Everything|author=Anthony Christian Wright|rating=43.5

|summary=I wasn't entirely sure often wonder - usually after a moment of shaking my fist at the news on TV - what my manifesto for life and society would look like were I to expect from this bookwrite it down. I only skimmedthrough have all sorts of thoughts about these things, from the description on Amazonmetaphysics of who we are and where we come from, and understood that four modernwriters were introducing the four Gospelsright down to detailed critiques of quite insignificant government policies. What I hadn't really takenin was that the introductions are brief ve never done such an exercise - a few pages each - and thatmostly because I lack the bulk of time, the book consists of the Authorised Version (known as theKing James Version in the USA) of patience and the Gospelsdiligence required. The whole is publishedin a fairly trendy looking paperback format, with the idea ofappealing to people who are not particularly religious, but who seethe Bible as valuable ancient literatureIt seems like an enormous task.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847678351</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Eagleman1850788332|title=SumRosie: Tales from the AfterlivesNote to Self |author=Claire Connor and G P Taylor|rating=43.5|genre=Literary General Fiction|summary=For some reason I find myself unable to start this review. So I'll mention this In the first of a five book starts deal Claire Connor, writing in partnership with GP Taylor, brings us a modern romance based loosely on the end, and see where we go story of Ruth from therethe Bible. Of courseThis is total chick-lit, that's and from the key – this book does first few pages I thought it was just that – starts with the end of our human life here on Earth (or wherever you happen going to be reading this) a very light, funny romance story. However, the story quickly takes a depressing turn and posits forty possibilities the rest of what happens thereafter, in the hereafter. It's not so book is as much 'Five People You Meet in Heaven' an exploration of grief as 'Forty Heavens you Might Meet People In'it is a romance novel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674283</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Blackstock Santiago_Returning|title=The Secret Symbol: The Original Masonic Documents Behind Dan Brown's Latest BestsellerReturning Home|author=Stephan Santiago|rating=3.5

|summary=Pop Quiz[[:Category:Stephan Santiago|Stephan Santiago]] has experienced life in a way that's led him to believe we're all on a soul journey back home – that place we inhabited before we were born. What links Scott of the Antarctic, Jim Davidson, Churchill, and Rabbie Burns? Where and when might you come This book is a cropper trying guide as to spell Boazhow we can optimise this journey for ourselves, but starting with the B? And what has three stages - unless it's thirty-three, or even ten by the York system?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683734</amazonuk>those around us and our children.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert CrumbWilbourne_Shepherd|title=Robert Crumb's Book Shepherd of Genesis: All 50 ChaptersAnother Flock|author=David Wilbourne|rating=4.5|genre=Graphic NovelsSpirituality and Religion|summary=In the beginning was the picture[[:Category:David Wilbourne|David Wilbourne's]] CV looks like a career path for people who are hard-of-humoured. Just think Banker, teacher of all the countless religious imagesAncient Greek, vicar, both inside and outside religious establishmentsbishop…none of these are jobs normally connected in our minds with a jovial twinkle. Yet in David's case, designed we'd be totally wrong to convey assume. The current Bishop of Llandaff takes us by the message hand to those who could not read. Art and religion have always been linked, which is probably one show us episodes from his life as vicar of the main reasons I stayed an atheist character- I hated art at school, and drawing a man on a donkey, something way beyond my skills, was not a task I appreciated, hence my dislike packed Yorkshire parish of Helmsley proving that tears of sorrow are equally shared with tears of both subjectslaughter.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224078097</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alexandra BrucePigliucci_How|title=2012: Science or SuperstitionHow to be a Stoic|author=Massimo Pigliucci

|genre=Popular ScienceSpirituality and Religion|summary=The fuss ''Stoicism is about 2012 has not started just recently. The first book developing the tools to feature deal as effectively as humanly possible with the story was from a Yale professorensuing conflicts, does not demand perfection, in 1966and does not provide specific answers. We've also had prog rock bands named after Popol Vuh' For many readers, the Maya creation myth. But as the crunch date living in an age of December 21st, 2012 - rules to make us happy and the winter solstice that year - nearsinevitable failure to stick to them, it's becoming a very big story indeedthis is an intensely reassuring sentence. Even though it sounds absurd - the end of a 5Pigliucci certainly makes Stoicism an appealing philosophy,125-year long cycle of the Maya calendarone which can sit alongside religious faith but doesn't have to, one which started on August 13thdoesn't demand Aristotelian heights of intelligence, 3114BCE - beauty or was judged riches in order to start thentruly succeed in life, when they came across this concept a couple of thousand years into that periodand one which recognises life's messy difficulties. Surely they couldn't predict the future from their 'primitive' state with such accuracy?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1934708283</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mitch Albom Pearce_Biblical|title=Have a Little FaithA Biblical Theology Behind Music, Praise, and Worship|author=Dr Mark Pearce

|summary=One Music used in religions and worship itself goes back to the beginning of humankind. In this book musician and theological academic [[:Category:Dr Mark Pearce|Dr Mark Pearce]] explores its Biblical history in a Christian context as well as providing tips and suggestions for those involved in worship in the present day.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Iles_Thoughts|title=The Thoughts and Inner Journey of Dr. John Dee|author=Clair Iles|rating=3.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=[[:Category:Clair Iles|Clair Iles]] is, Mitch Albomin her own words, a normal person who was educated at a normal comprehensive school. However, she's eighty-two year old rabbi asks him to write his eulogya normal person who hears dead people. Thinking that he must be close to death Albom reluctantly agreesYes, but decides Clair is a spiritualist with ability to meet with 'hear from those who have passed on. In the Reb' to try to get to know him better as a man firstpast they had generally been relatives or everyday folk. What Imagine, then develops is an eight year friendship as Albom continues to regularly meet with the Reb, who her surprise when she felt she was obviously stronger than he looked, discussing life and religion and death and lovehearing from Elizabethan court polymath John Dee. At the same Over a period of time Mitch becomes involved with a pastor she could feel his dictated thoughts and ideas in Detroit called Henry, a reformed drug dealer, who her mind and this book of the channelled words is the result.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Woodcock_Becoming|title=Becoming Reverend: A diary|author=Matt Woodcock|rating=4.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=[[:Category:Matt Woodcock|Matt Woodcock]] is preaching from an old, run-down church with no powerenjoying life: successful journalist, no heat happily married and a hole in its roofnew dream home bought and heavily mortgaged. Albom relates The only cloud on the horizon is their struggle to have children but they have faith in the RebIVF treatment as it's early days yet. Then comes the funny turn Matt has on the way to a story, and thoughts on life, against one day. This takes him by surprise but the back drop resulting clergy collar comes as a total shock. He's a normal bloke who always thought of himself as more pint than piety believing in a God who's happy for him to remain in the struggling Henry, querying issues like forgiveness, doubt and faithpews.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847442919</amazonuk> Errrrm… whoops!

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tamim Ansary Chaplin_Stone|title=Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic EyesThe Stone Cradle|author=Patrice Chaplin

|genre=HistorySpirituality and Religion|summary=I enjoyed history at school and whilst we didn't always work our way through it chronologically I came, over time, to have 'The Stone Cradle'' is a working knowledge of remarkable book from the ancient Egyptiansauthor Patrice Chaplin. It is a biography, Greeks and Romans. I knew about the rise third in a series set in the Catalonian city of Christianity Girona. It is also an enduring love story and spoke knowledgeably about medieval Englanda journey into mystery and spirituality. The city has drawn artists, the Renaissance writers and philosophers for centuries. Rich in Kabbalistic thought through Azriel, the Reformation but was perhaps less taken by most famous student of Isaac the Industrial Revolution Blind, it has always been a home for mysticism and all that followedsecrets. I was au fait with The magnetism and resonance of the east but city has had a hold on Patrice Chaplin since she first visited it was mainly from in the perspective fifties. The series of exploration – or even exploitationbooks detail her journey and her encounters with the esoteric society that have protected its mysteries since ancient times. It was an education based on 'The Stone Cradle' also gives a new life and direction to the virtues mysteries of Rennes le Chateau, the solidsmall French village, white, English, Christian middle classes made famous by the Da Vinci Code and the Holy Blood and it completely ignored histories from The Holy Grail. Linking the two places through sacred geometry to the perspective mountain of other religionsCanigou.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1586486063</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Trevor Hamilton Vonnegut_Sun|title=Immortal Longings: F.W.H. Myers Sun Moon Star|author=Kurt Vonnegut and the Victorian Search for Life After DeathIvan Chermayeff|rating=4.5|genre=Biography Spirituality and Religion|summary=Born in 1843, Frederic Myers began In his career as a classical lecturer at Cambridge Universityown delightfully imaginative way, but disliked teaching Kurt Vonnegut tells the story of the birth of Christ in this unique and soon gave it up in favour long out of print children's book. Told from the perspective of writing poetry and essays the new born infant in literature. Although his social circle included men such as Gladstonefirst hours of birth, Ruskin, Tennyson, Browning and Prince Leopold, the most intellectual of Queen Victoriathis charming little story feels different to other children's sons, his Christmas books (which are not so well remembered today) might have been his sole claim whilst at the same time goes back to fame, had it not been for his passionate curiosity about the meaning of human life. If it had a purpose, he was convinced, it could only be discovered through basics in exploring the study true nature of human experiencesChristmas.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845401239</amazonuk>